Engine starter



Po6onted Doc. 27, 1938 P TENT oFF E '11s invention 1'1o!(o to oppofotus for Stort iog lnteroo.1 coo1bustion engines.

The obJeots of the invent1on o1e chien to ro vide on engine storter Which is efcient, duroble ono qulet 1n operotlon and vv11ich is econon1ico1 to oons6ruot. Aocording to the dlsolosod on1- bodiment of my invention these ob ect8 8Te oc oomplished bypToviding 8 f iction drlve betWeen the engine to be started ond the stoTting nlotor, sofd dnve oon1p iSing o diso of onnuof flonge o sooioted vvfth the engine fly-vzhee1 of othef nlenber oonneoted vv1th-the engine c ook shof6 ond o p ir of dTiving dlsos Which re engageable W1th opposite faces of the driven dlsc. ooh d rivin dlsc hos on inde endent driving connect1on w1th the storting motor shoft. och of soid 1ndependent dnving oonnections inoludes con1- ,nnng memberS so conStructed and oTranged thot When a, dnvin3 dlsc hos been brought into en 2 gogenlent With the dnven disc, rototion of the motor shoft Win fofoe 6he diving disc ag8inst the dnven dfso W1th pressuTe sufoient for driv 1ng engogeInent betWeen the Inotor ond dT1ven dlsc WheTeby the motor Win oTank the engine.

2 Sold independent dnv1ng connectlon s sooon- Struoted thot, When 6he engine becoInes sef op orotive, the driving pressure vv111 be TeHeved to reeose the engne froIn the sto1tlng Inotor so l thot the engine vvi11 not dTive the nlotoT ot on exoessive S )((d.

- The pTesent inventlon includes nleons operoting independent of the InotoT foT oousing the dnving discs to engo e the dTiven diso before the n1otor operates. AS Win be Inore opporen 3 hereinofter, the shock or obnorXno1 Strain attendot upon establishInent of conneotions be -tWeen the storting n1otor ond the englne holS been mininnzed, ond, oonsequently, the opefal tion of the starter drive meoh8niSIn hos been 20 mode more qufe6, so thot the durobiHty as wen oS feHabnity of the starter drive mechanm has beon gTeotly improved.

urther ob ects ond odvantoges of the present invention Win be opparent fron1 the fo11owing 4 desoript1on, refeTence being had to the-ocoom ponying -dravvlngs Wherein o preferred eInbodi Inent of one forTn of the present invention is cleoTly shoWn.

In the dToWings= ,ig. 1 1s a side view partly in section showing o prefeTred e!nbodiInent of the invention in its norn1al condition.

Fi 2 is 8 vvirin diagran1 the eof. Pig. 3 is a, fragnentary 1ongitudina1 sectional vieW of a starting ap aTatus,

, ongfne has r (ol. -6 v gs, 2, 5, 6 ond '7 ore seotiooo1 vleWs tokoo respeotively on the 11ne 2 2, 66, H ondT-T gs, 8, 9 ood 10' o e dlogrommoc vieWs sim1- 1aII to g. 3 but shoWing the nechgnJSn1ini d1f!ef 5 ent position of opefotion,

The moto1 for storting the interno1 con1bus tion engine ls pTefeTobly electno motor com prising neld fro e 2l assooloted With on ond frome 22 ond o houng 26 Whioh ooTfy beonogs 1 22 o 26, respeotively, fof the motor 8rInotufoshoft 26 Which oornes oo ofnloture 22. Befernng noW partiou1ar1y to ,gs 6 to 2 the shoft 26 ooTTies o t11b11lor shoft 66 Which 18 spnned ot 6l to the shoft 26 So thot tho tubulot 1 shaft 3n 1s at meS drivingly connected With t e shoft bub m s1i e thoreon to o lonited extenf. The tubular shoft 66 is uIged ogoins6 the end of the bea,Ting 2 by spTing 22 Which sufrounds the annature shft 26 nd Wfich m locoted betWeen tho ormatufe 2T ond tho left handondof the tubu1a Sh8ft 36.

Toe shoft 3o c 11es onv1 g diso ono dning dfso 62 8doped to move into engogemeot With ond to dTive o driven diso 36 oonneoted 26 With the englne t0 be strted, Ech of the dnv ing dlsos 22, 62 has onnependent driving oon neotion vvith the shaft 32 soid drivi1g conneo t1on being so oonstuoted ond oTrooged th t, oftor tho dr1v1ng`dsos hove beenmoved ogolnst 2 the dnven diso 66, rootfon of the shoft 66 byfho motor w couse the dIiving diso to be pressod ogainst the driven Sc vvith`presSuTo sufoclent for engine starting puTposes ond that, ofteT the betWeen the d1ving diScs ond dnven oc W111 be relieved so that the engine vv1n not drlve the storting n1otor Wflile the engine iS self opefatlve. ach of these driying connections betWeen the d Tiving dlScs ond n1otor shoft 66 oonopr1Ses ooo1- 20 ming membeTS, preferably coopeToting soreW threods, exteTnany on the shoft 26 ond lntoT-: nally on the driving discs. Tho driving dlso 22 iS connected With the sh8ft 3 thTough double screw thread 36 ond noTmally festS ogofnSt o 2 conar 3T SecuTed to the shaft 36. Te d,Tivng diso 32 is con11ected Wi6h Shaft 3 tfirough 8 screw thread connect1on which is provid d by- 8 pluTality of banS 66 occupying mating heHoo grooves 66 and 26 provided respectively by.the 50 sha.ft 36 andlthe tubular extension of dnving diso 32. It vvi11 be noted that the sorew theod oonnections between the diving dlscs ond the shaft 36 are opposite in ltoh so that, afber these discs have been moved into enga enlent vvith the oo become self opeTative, the pressuTe dnven dfso 33 rot3tion of the fffotor shaft 33 Wi11 cause eoh drfving diso to be vvedged 1nde pendently gainst the d1,iven disc With B pfessuTe sufficient fo1, engine strting purposes, and so that, aftef the engine becofnes self opefative and the dfiven diso 33 atteInptS to fotate the dTfv ing disos 33 and 33 fastef than they can be fo tated by the Stofting n1otor, the dfiving pressufe be3Ween the d fving discs and the dfiven diso W31 be Teneved So that the engine cannot drfve the star3ing n1otof at exoesSfve speed.

The present invention inoI11des a Ineans inde pendent of the Starting motof fof oauSing the driving discs 33, ond 33 to be fnoved into en gagenlent vvith the dfiven diSo 33 befofe tho stafting moto1 opofates to oause the driving discS to be Wedged agoinSt the dfiven diso vvith presSuTe su3ioient to transnf torque sufffcient for engnd stafting pufposes. This n1e3ns for oa3Sing a, pTeHminary engagement of the dnv g discs wfth the diven diso wi11 now be de sofibed.

TT1e disc 33 hS its tubulaT extension provfded oxteioT1y Wfth a plurality of helical splines 3 3dapted to be engaged by the internaHy SpIined 3ange 32 of a sleeve 33 whfch is supported by ar diso 33 fiveted to the left hand end of Shaft 33. Diso 33 has tongues 37 Teceived by a1ongi tuding1 gfoove 33 of Sleeve 33. f3 spfing 33 is ocatod between the diso 33 and the flange 32 8nd tends to nlaintain the felative location of the sleeve 33 and diSc 33 as Shown in Eig, 3, that fs, vvith the tongues 37 beafing agafnSt the left hand ends of gfooves 33. The sleeye 33 befng longitudinany sp1ined to the hub of the driving dis(= 33, dlfe to the gfeat fnaSS of pafts oonneoted with the shaft 33 inoluding the afn13tuTe Shaft 23 and the affnature 2T, the shaft 33 tendS to renlain stationary aS the Sleeve 33 is Inoved longit11dinally. IIence, the sleeve 33 n1oves longitudinany vvithoI1t rototing subSt3ntia11y. The pitch of the splineS 3l fofn1ed on the S1eeve like extenSion 33 of disc 33 fS Such thart, as the sloeve 33 is moved toward the left from its po Sition shoWn in 3g. 3 the dISo 33 Wn1 rotate re1- aative to the Shaft 33 in a difection such als to cauSe the diso 33 30 Inove into engagenlent Wfth the diSc 33.

In ofdef that the s1eeve 33 In3y be ffoved tovvard the left frofn its position shown in 3g. 3 it fs pfovided vvith af1 extefnaj1 f1ange 33 fof re ceivfng the endS 33 of a bifurcated lever 73 hav ing at its upper end an elongated notch 7l which receives a pin 73 cafTied by bifurcated braoket 73 integra1 With an L-shaped bTacket 73 attoched to an electroInagnet fran1e 73 mounted upon the motof ffame 3l. 3 Spring 73 surfounds a stud 77 attached to the bracket 73 and ufges the up pef end of the lever T3 againSt the pin 72.

TT1e lever 73 is actuated e1ectrofnagnetically by n1eanS Which WiH now be de cribed vith referenoe to 3g. 2. AS Shown diagrannlaticaHy in ,ig. 2, Inagnet frofne 73 encloSeS electrofnagnet vvind ingS 33 and 3l surrounding a Inovable solenoid arfnature 32 guided by the Inagnet frafne 73 foT Sliding InoveInent toward a stationary core 33 Which iS located in the fnagnetic circ11it of the electroInagnet. T he arnlature 32 iS connected by a link 33 vvith the lever 73. Arn1atufe 32 iS aS- Sociated With a rod 33 upon whioh is Inounted a nonconduoting cOHar 33 yieldingly urged by Spring 37 againSt a shoulder 33, the spring 37 be ing connned betWeen the collar 33 and a washer 89 held fron1 n1ovin toward the right by a iTi 93. A Spfing 9l located betvveen a stationary part 32 ond the fod 33 nofm8ny mntns the fod 33 and the afmatufe 32 in the norm81 posftfon os shown in ,ig. 2.

T31e collar 33 ca ries a n1ov3ble svvftch oootoot 33 adapted to engge Wi3h contoots 33 End 37 of the stsrting Inotor sWitch. Contact 33 fs oonnected by vvife 33 With E Svvitch tern3no1 33. contact 37 is connected With the st3rting n1otor 23 Which is grounded at l33. Ternnn31 33 1s connected vvith Stofage batteTy l3l gfounded ot l32. Terfnfna1 33 Inay be connected sinlutoneously with terIninas l33 and l33 by a nov3ble cont3ot l33 Ternnna l33 is oonnecteo With cont8ot l33 of an a11toInatic sWitch having also El terfnfno 37 connected vvith windings 33 and 3l, 3| being connected With contact 37 and 33 being grounded at l33. This autoInatic svvitch oesignated in fts entirety by nuIneral 3, ooInprises ol suction cha!nber connected by plpe 2 vvith the fntake Inanifod of an intern E oonlbustfon engfffe, ()ne vva11 of the chan1bef l l iS provided by a df3. phfgm 3 Which iS attached to sWitch oont ot 3, said contact being nofnany in engagefnent With contacts 33 and l37, sslid engagenfent be ing effected through the oction of o spnng 3 1ooated So as to pfesS the diaphfogIn ll3 dov3nwardly aS viewed in g. 2.

AS Stated befofe, this inventfon en1broces the featufe of causing the dTiving dfscs 33 ond 33 to be moved into engagement Wh the dffven diso 33 befofe opefating the starting motof 33. is accoInpHShed by n1eans independent of the fffotof, nafnely, th elecfroInagnet n1e8ns shoWn df grafnInaticany in g- 2. The nlonner in Whlch the driving diSos are caused fo engage the dfiven diScS vvi11 now be doScflbed pafticulafly vv1th fe.

spect to 1=,igs. 3, 9 and 10.

T o staft the engine the opefatof 3urns the switch contact l33 so as to cauSe 13 to engoge the contact l33 and the oontaot l33- Tfle ig nftion is then tuTned on, the ignition circuft be fng connected With the terInina1 |33 vvf1fch is then oonnected vvith the battery l3|. The ter n1fna1 |33 being then also conneoted Wfth b3t tefy l3l, chffent Win now ffom the b33tefy l3l through the vvindings 33 and 3l, the fonner being direotly gfounded 9t 333 alnd the 1otter being indlreotly grounded through the fnotor 23. T31e electfonlagnet vvindings 33 and 3l befng ener gized, the affnature 32 vvi11 nove tovvafd the left thefeby oausing the lever 73 to move to svvfng toward the left in s clock-WiSe direction ofoond its pivot 73. 1)uring the fnoven1en3 of the levef 73 the contact 33 Wi11 be nlovfng tovvafd oontocts 33 and 37; but before engagefnent of theSe con taots actuany occufS, the driving discs 33 8nd 33 WiH be brought into engagen1ent With the dffven dfsc 33 in a manner which wi11be apparent frofn a conSideration of 33gs. 3, 9 gnd 13.

As lever 73 Inoves tovvafd the 1eft the entfre dnve assembly win be fnoved bodny toWord the left from the position shown in F1g. 3 to thot shown in I='ig. 9 thereby causing the driving diso 33 to engage the driven diSc 33. Thfs Inovenlent of the drive asSefnbly iS feSisted by the spffng 33 which nofnlaHy holdS the sh3ft 33 3g3inst the bearin 23.

,ufther fnoveInent of the lever 73 towafd the left causes the Sleeve 33 to Inove to the left fe1E- tive to the dfiving diso sleeve 33 thereby o3using the driving diSc 33 to be fotated in'such difeo tion relative to the shaft 33 that the disc 33 d11 be moved fron1 itS position shown in 3g 9 to that shoWn in Fig. 13 Wherein said disc 33 en gageS the driving diSc 33.

The driving discs 73 dfiven by the n1otor, 9. fubulaf-Shoft fnountedZ on the n18in shanff and hoving 9 1ongitudiIla1- spline conneotion thereWith, ar spfing ufging the tubulaf shaft in one difeotion against a Stop, drfvlng discs each nfounted ofl the tubulaf shft and having a, sofeWfhread oonneotion thereWith, o sflfftef S1eeve flaving a henoal Spline conffection vvithone of the drivingdfsos and.a1ongitudi no1 SpHne connection With the tubular shaff, a SpTIng ufging Sarfd Sleeve into o ceftaiff position 1 e1otive to the dfiving diSc vvitf1.vvhich ft is os soo18ted, and 1f1eans including yielding n1otfon transn1itting provisions for actu ting the shiffer sleeve.

- 17. 1 o1 usefn al staftef for an engine having a ffiction dTiven dfso, the con1binatfon of a, Shaft adopted to be connected vvfth o stafting n1otof 8nd to be dfiven thefeby, fffotion dfiving disos InoIlnted npon saidshaft and adapted to engage With opposfte sldeS of the dfiven disc of the engine, independent driving oonnections.betvveen the shaft and dTiving discS sofd conneotions eaoh including oamming membefs Whefeby in fesponS to operation of the Inotor o11oWing preiZninary InoveInent of the driving disos into engagenent vvitflfhe engine dfsc, each driving diso is ufged againSt the engine diSc vvith pfesSure Suicient fof dTfving engagement, and Whefeby, When the engine beconles Se1foperatfve, the dTiving pfes sufe wf11 be fe1feved, and dfiving diso shifting nleans odapted for actuotion independent of the n1otor and inc1uding a IneInber, suppofted by the shaft and Inovable 1ongitudinally theTeof and pfovisfonS fesponSive to fffovenlent of said Inen1ber in one dfTeotion for causing pre1fIni nary movement of said dffving diScs into engoge fnent With the engine diScs.

18. PoT use in a, Starter fo1 an engine having a. ffiction dfiven diso fhe cofnbination of ar shaft odapted to be oonneoted wfth 3. stafting ff1otof and to be dfiven thereby, ffiction driving d1scS fflouflted upon Said shaft and adapted to engage With opposte Sldes of the dfiven diSc of the en gifle, 1ndependent screvv-thfead oonneotlons of opposfte pitoh, respeotively, betvveen the shaft and driving disos, and dffving disc shifting fneanS adapted fof octuation independent of the Inotof' and inoludfng a Inefnbef, supported by the Shaff and Inovable 1ongitudinany thefeof and pfo visfons feSponSive to InoveInent of said lT1efnbef in one difection for oausing pfeliIninary Inove fnent of said dfiving discs into engagen1ent vvith the engifle diso.

19. Fof use in a stafter fo1 an engine having a fffctfon dfiven diso, tho cofnbination of a Shaft adapted to be connected vvith a storting n1otor and to be driven thefeby, ffiction driving diScs Inounted upon said Shaft and adapted to engage vvith opposite SideS of the dfiven disc of the en gine, independent Screw-thread conf1ections of oppoSfte pitoh, respeotively, between the shaft and driving diSos, al Shiftef Sleeve oarffed by the shaft and having a he1ioal spline conneotion With one of the driving disos and a longitudina1 Spline conneotion with the shaft, and a Spring urging said sleeve into a ceTtain poSition relative to the driving diso vvith Which it iS aSsociated.

20; 'or use in a staTter for an engine having a friction driven diSc, the coInbination of a Shaft adapted to be connected With a startin motor and to be drfven thereby, friction driving disos mount ed upon Said Shaft .and adapted to engage With opposite Sides of the driven diSc of the engine, in dependent dTiviI1g connectionS betWeen the shaft and dTiving discs, each of Said independent oon neotions being snch thot felative fotatlon betvveen adiso andthe shaftoauSes felotive axfo1 nlovenlent between them Whefeby, 111fesponse to operotfon of the motoT after operation of soid fndependent discqn10ving Ineans, eooh dffving dlso fs ufged against the driven diso vvith pfessure suff1cfent fof driving engagen1enf, and Whereby, When the engfne becomes selfopefotive, the dfivfI1g pfessufe vvi11 be felieved, 9 shfffef sleeve cafffed by the shaff ond havlng 8 helic9.1 spline connectfon vvfth one ofthe dTiving disos ond od 1ongftudfno1 spline conneotion vvifh the shoft, and ol spfff1g uTging Said sleeve into.a cert in poSftion fel tfve to the dfivfng diso vv1th vvhich ft 1s.olssooolted.

21. ffn engine Stafter dTiveodopted to be op efoted by 9. Stalfti11g n1otof hovfng-o fototoble shoft, and con1prising o dnven disc oonnected to the engine to be stafted, dnving dfSos loo ted on opposite sides of the dfiven dfsc and odopted to bo n1oved into engogenlent vfth the drlven d18o, Ineans fof noving said drivfng discs fnto engoge Inent With salid driven diso priof to opefatlon of the n1otof, Said driving discs having cBIn Suffoces forned thefeon adapted to`be operoted by coopefatingoan1 Inefnbefs driven by the n1otor sffoft whereby, in fesponSe to opofotfon of the motor after the aforenlentioned prennnnafy n1ovenfent of the dfiving disos, each dffving disc fs uTged -ogainst the dffven dfSc With preSSufe suf!1ofent for drivfng engagen1ent, ond Whefeby When the engfne becoInes sefoperative, the preSSufe vvf11 be fe neved.

22. An engine stofter drive odopted to be op efated by a stafting fnotof hav1ng a fototoble Shaft, and cofnpTising al dfiven diSc oonnected to the engfneto be Started, dTiving dfsos fooated on opposite sides of the dfiven diso, and adopted fo be Inoved into engageInent Wfth the driven disc, means fof moving said drivfng dfscs fnto engoge Inent vvfth said dffven disc pTior to opefotfon of the Inotof, said driving disos hovfng caIn surfooes fofIned theTeon adapted to be operoted independently by other oafn IneInbefs dfiven by the fflotor Shaft, the ooopefating oaTn fnefnbers being so oon structed and arTanged that, in Tesponse to opero tion of the moto1 aftef the ofofenlentioned pre- Hminary movement of the dTiving disos, the preS Sufe of safd drivifg diScs against the driven discs vvi11 be fnofeaSed and thot said pfessufe vvf11 be reHeved When the engfne beoon1es Se1foperative.

23. An. engine stofter drive adapted to be op erated b a starting Inotor having a rototobe Shaft, ond ooInpriSing o driven diso connected to the engine to be Started, driving discs located on opposite sides.of the dTiven disc, and adapted to be n1oved info engagenlent vvith the driven dlso, meanS formoving Said driving discs into engage fnent with said dfiven diSo prior to operation of the n1otor, Said driving disos each being pro vided with Screw thfeadS adapted to oooperate With other sofeW theads Totatable by the motor shaft, said Screw threadS on the driving diScs be ing of oppoSite pitch, Whereby in response to rot8 tion of the Inotor Shaft after the above nlentioned preliIninary Inoven1ent of the driving discs, each dTiving disc is urged againSt the dTiven diso with preSSure Sufoient for driving engagen1ent, and whereby When the engine becoInes Se1foperative the preSSure vvi11 be relieved.

2. An engine Starter drive adapted to be operated by a Starting Inotor having a fotatable Shaft and coInpriSing a driven disc connected to the engine to be Started, driving diScs located on opposite SideS of the driven diSc, a tubular shaft ad8pted to be splined to the Inotor Shaft to be 

